Samuel McLean likeness

Samuel McLean cap badgeSapper Samuel McLean

Royal Engineers 2/1st (Lowland Field) Company
Service No: 3438

Samuel McLean grave

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Click here for a frameable A4 print
Personal details

Family Information

Son of William (1868 - 1934) and Margaret McLean. Husband of Margaret (01/01/1894 - ) and Father of Jeanie (12/06/1913 - ). From the 1901 Ireland Census - Address - 161 Ahoghill Village, Ahoghill, Antrim - Margaret McClean aged 29, Samuel McLean aged 12, Mary Jane McLean aged 7, Sarah McClean aged 5, James McLean aged 4, Elizabeth McClean aged 2, William John McClean aged 8 months (see photos). Samuel's Pension was awarded to his wife Margaret on the 21/02/1916. She remarried Sapper William Brown (91849) of the Royal Engineers on the 11/08/1916. Samuel and Margaret's daughter Jeanie is also listed on the Pension Record.

Born / Resided

Ahoghill, Ballymena / 307 Main St, Coatbridge

Died

Killed in Action on the 12/07/1915 at the Battle of Achi Baba Nullah, Gallipoli

Enlisted

Coatdyke

Employed

Miner in Clarkston

Age

26

Buried / Remembered

Helles Memorial, Turkey

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. On 6 August, further landings were made at Suvla, just north of Anzac, and the climax of the campaign came in early August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all three fronts. However, the difficult terrain and stiff Turkish resistance soon led to the stalemate of trench warfare. The Helles Memorial serves the dual function of Commonwealth battle memorial for the whole Gallipoli campaign and place of commemoration for many of those Commonwealth servicemen who died there and have no known grave. The United Kingdom and Indian forces named on the memorial died in operations throughout the peninsula, the Australians at Helles. There are also panels for those who were lost at sea, in one of the troopships sunk off Gallipoli. Over 20,000 names are commemorated on this memorial.

Additional Information

The 2/1st (Lowland) Field Company were part of the 52nd (Lowland) Division from March 1915 and headed for Gallipoli in June. Samuel arrived in Gallipoli on the 29/06/1915. On the 5th of April the Division was warned that it would go on overseas service ; on the 7th of May this was confirmed, with the destination being Gallipoli. The units embarked at Liverpool and Devonport between the 18th May and the 8th June. Disaster struck on the 22nd of May when a train carrying the Battalion HQ and two Companies of the 1/7th Royal Scots crashed in an accident at Quntinshill near Gretna. 3 Officers and 207 men died, 5 Officers and 219 were injured. Fewer than 70 men survived this crash unscathed. Samuel fell at the Battle of Achi Baba Nullah. The Battle (12th and 13th July 1915) : The order was given to charge the Turkish defences in the late afternoon of the 12th of July 1915. As was the case throughout the campaign, the fighting was conducted at close quarters, with some trenches almost within touching distance. The Battle proved to be an overwhelming disaster. On the 12th July, the 52nd (Lowland) suffered 2427 casualties, of which 1065 were killed. Samuel's name on the Helles Memorial donated by Mick McCann at britishwargraves.co.uk. See photos for Samuel's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Ireland 1901 Census Record, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Helles Memorial Panel List, his name on the Helles Memorial, Samuel's Pension Record and the Royal Engineers Cap Badge.

Photos
Samuel McLean Medal Index CardSamuel McLean newspaper clippingSamuel McLean additional photoSamuel McLean additional photoSamuel McLean additional photoSamuel McLean additional photoSamuel McLean additional photoSamuel McLean additional photoSamuel McLean additional photoSamuel McLean additional photo

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